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Sri Lanka asks Tamils without jobs to leave Colombo

B. Muralidhar Reddy

Threat to security is the reason, says Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: Sri Lanka's police on Friday asked Tamils from north and east, who are staying in various lodges here without jobs, to go back to their homes in view of the security situation.

Tamils from the troubled regions could pose a threat to the security particularly when they cannot satisfactorily explain reasons for their presence, Police Inspector-General Victor Perera told reporters here.

"Those who are loitering in Colombo will be sent home. We will give them transport. We are doing this to protect the people and because of a threat to national security."

He said Tamils spent over six months in the city without any employment and were "loitering". Citizens from north visiting Colombo are required to obtain a pass to travel to the rest of the country and specify for how long they will be away. The permit system, which is almost like a visa, was restored after the ceasefire began falling apart last year.

According to Mano Ganesan, MP, Tamil owners of 58 lodges in Pettah Police Division here have been instructed to send back 5,000 tenants within 24 hours.

Chief Inspector Jayaratne on Thursday evening summoned the owners at short notice to convey the warning, lodge owners told media.

Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) and Western Province People's Front (WPPF) parliamentarians, who contacted the defence establishment in Colombo, said they had sought assurances from the authorities that nobody would be forced to vacate or no lodge would be closed down based on ethnic identity.

Separately, TamilNet quoting reports from Jaffna said fighting could breakout at the Vadamaradchchy East and Thenmaradchchy Forward Defence Lines (FDLs).

"Sri Lanka Army [SLA] at the northern FDLs has completed preparations for a major battle, and is waiting for command from Colombo to begin offensives, reports said. Although sufficient military hardware were moved to the FDLs during March, and early April this year, the military campaign was postponed due to the attack by the Air-Tigers on Palaly military complex on the early hours of 24 April, informed sources said", it claimed.

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